Opinions: Nintendo's Risk-Taking.

[ElkinFencer10]

Literally the only thing in Other M that I didn't absolutely love was the "authorization" bullshit that popo mentioned.

[Xeogred]

I beat Other M like just last year and my mind has already basically purged all memories of the story bits. They were HORRIBLE.

But underneath that, was a very solid game. Still very flawed though, it was quite linear with a lot of hallways and backtracking was a pain. The combat and atmosphere was top notch, but there was only a few very large rooms in the game. If there was more, it wasn't so linear and did the Metroidvania thing better, would have been amazing stuff. In ways, I can almost say it's a shame Team Ninja didn't get another crack at it with a sequel or something to refine some elements. Glad I played it.

Samus Returns looks like Sakamoto's redemption. But it will be interesting to see how the Japanese (assuming) handle Prime 4. I was kind of hoping From Software would develop it. That would probably be the best match up in the history of gaming now and forever.

[Segata]

I beat Other M like just last year and my mind has already basically purged all memories of the story bits. They were HORRIBLE.

But underneath that, was a very solid game. Still very flawed though, it was quite linear with a lot of hallways and backtracking was a pain. The combat and atmosphere was top notch, but there was only a few very large rooms in the game. If there was more, it wasn't so linear and did the Metroidvania thing better, would have been amazing stuff. In ways, I can almost say it's a shame Team Ninja didn't get another crack at it with a sequel or something to refine some elements. Glad I played it.

Samus Returns looks like Sakamoto's redemption. But it will be interesting to see how the Japanese (assuming) handle Prime 4. I was kind of hoping From Software would develop it. That would probably be the best match up in the history of gaming now and forever.

No thanks, I don't want a Souls Metroid. Not everything needs to be Souls. Platinum is more fitting for a Metroid game but even then would have to be a spinoff. I would really prefer Retro made Prime 4. Only way I'd want From making a Metroid is if it mixed a little Armored Core with Otogi.

[Exhuminator]

I can't help but get a little perturbed when folks think Other M's game design was Team Ninja's failing. Nintendo wanted Team Ninja to make a Metroid game that played like a Ninja Gaiden / Metroid hybrid. Team Ninja did exactly that. They served up exactly the gameplay they were paid to produce. Outside the gameplay, Team Ninja had absolutely nothing to do with the story or characterization of Samus. That was entirely Yoshio Sakamoto's will manifested on screen. My personal opinion is that Sakamoto is a good game designer but a pretty terrible writer.

[PartridgeSenpai]

Samus Returns looks like Sakamoto's redemption. But it will be interesting to see how the Japanese (assuming) handle Prime 4. I was kind of hoping From Software would develop it. That would probably be the best match up in the history of gaming now and forever.

No thanks, I don't want a Souls Metroid. Not everything needs to be Souls. Platinum is more fitting for a Metroid game but even then would have to be a spinoff. I would really prefer Retro made Prime 4. Only way I'd want From making a Metroid is if it mixed a little Armored Core with Otogi.

Why would you want a From Metroid game? On the same note, why would you want a Platinum Metroid game? Just going for such action-heavy companies really gets away from a lot of what makes Metroid Metroid for me. Yeah, the combat is good in the 2D games, but it's not the main event like From and Platinum tend to make it.
What about the Automata guys? (writing and development) Do you suppose they could make a good Metroid? Something tells me it'd be another Other M with the way they'd probably wanna handle the story though X3

[Xeogred]

Yeah, Team Ninja are very competent. All the blame is on Sakamoto's shoulders.

Segata: It's not like it needs to be ultra hard or anything and I know you just said you dislike Souls games somewhere recently, but the fact of the matter is... the Dark Souls games and Bloodborne are just about literally everything Iga Castlevania in 3D should have been. They do 3D Metroidvania to perfection. Topped off with dreadful atmosphere, minimalistic storytelling and no hand holding, lots of lore building just like the Prime scanning, they focus 99.9% on pure gameplay...

This is exactly what makes Metroid and Super so good. While I love the whole series, the series has subtly and slowly shifted away from how dreary and dark the original Metroid and Super were. Some of the most atmospheric games of all time in my book. The Prime games and other moments still continue to give me chillls, but it's never been quite the same after the Gunpei era. I'm not sure if he was the element that brought that out or what. If there is someone that could re-inject that darker edge again, I bet From Software could do it.

PartridgeSenpai: You make it sound like developers are chained down to their tropes or something. Also we're just talking theories, but you'd also need to consider Nintendo would obviously have the final say and a lot of developers tend to thrive under their watch. From Software (and Platinum) are some of the best teams in the business and could probably do anything. I'm just not sure how you guys aren't seeing it. Replace the enemies in Dark Souls with Medusa Heads and give the main character a whip and give it awesome BGM, it's the best 3D Castlevania game. Give the entire game a palette swap and it could easily be a Metroid game, the formula is very similar. But I guess I'll leave it at that since nobody is following me.

And nobody here is suggesting Yoko Taro make a Metroid game... good lordy no. For the record he's not even a Platinum employee and is a testament to how much creative control and direction a designer can have (Automata), which also goes along with how Sakamoto badly handled some of Other M and it shows.

Obviously yeah, Retro doing Prime 4 would be the perfect best choice. But they're not, and most of that team aren't even with Retro anymore anyways. So in ways I wonder why they're even calling it Prime 4. Maybe it's a place holder until something else comes up, because I imagine it will be pretty different.

[Gunstar Green]

This is exactly what makes Metroid and Super so good. While I love the whole series, the series has subtly and slowly shifted away from how dreary and dark the original Metroid and Super were. Some of the most atmospheric games of all time in my book. The Prime games and other moments still continue to give me chillls, but it's never been quite the same after the Gunpei era. I'm not sure if he was the element that brought that out or what. If there is someone that could re-inject that darker edge again, I bet From Software could do it.

I'd rather From continue working on their own IPs but I agree with your sentiment completely. Something was missing after Super that they never completely recaptured though I think the original Prime comes closest.

[Xeogred]

This is exactly what makes Metroid and Super so good. While I love the whole series, the series has subtly and slowly shifted away from how dreary and dark the original Metroid and Super were. Some of the most atmospheric games of all time in my book. The Prime games and other moments still continue to give me chillls, but it's never been quite the same after the Gunpei era. I'm not sure if he was the element that brought that out or what. If there is someone that could re-inject that darker edge again, I bet From Software could do it.

I'd rather From continue working on their own IPs but I agree with your sentiment completely. Something was missing after Super that they never completely recaptured though I think the original Prime comes closest.

Won't argue there haha, it's odd they're supposedly working on like three games right now. Hope they don't spread themselves too thin.

Agreed on Prime, probably the most "mysterious" one after the originals to me.

[Sarge]

If we're just talking atmosphere, then sure, Souls can be a good place to start. But I wouldn't want the gameplay they're known for (mostly methodical stuff) anywhere near the Metroid franchise.

I do agree that, especially in the older Metroid games, the combat really isn't the point. It's a means to an end, with the exploration and atmosphere taking center stage. I enjoyed playing a more action-oriented game in Other M, though, and apparently Samus Returns is a bit more combat-focused as well. Of course, I would expect as much, given that pretty much the whole structure of Metroid II is built around exterminating Metroids.

For all the jazz that Fusion gets, I think it absolutely nails the vibe it's going for; the linearity actually makes sense as part of the story. You're an underpowered, outgunned Samus that would have no hope against the SA-X monstrosity all the way up to the end. Taking it out is tremendously cathartic, and a great capstone on the quest.

Back to Other M, I agree the authorization system is stupid. Especially when running through an area where you're literally dying from heat, but no, gotta wait on Adam's authorization. Now that is an egregious bit of storytelling. But he still did a great job on both Super Metroid and Metroid Fusion, so I can't give him too much crap. Everyone missteps at times.

[noiseredux]

I'm not as deep into Metroid lore as y'all, having only played a handful of entries over the years. But for those of you super into it, do you think the original Alien inspiration is what you feel is now missing?